John Ellenbacher, 47, of Linden, N.J., is charged by Complaint with one count of distributing images of child sex abuse over the Internet. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.

According to the criminal Complaint:

In August 2012, law enforcement officers engaged in a child exploitation investigation intercepted emails containing criminal images and videos. Subsequent investigation into the origin of the emails led to a computer at Ellenbacher’s home.

The distribution count carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of ICE HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations against Ellenbacher are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information which may be relevant to this investigation is encouraged to contact ICE HSI through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or by completing its online tip form at http://www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.